2015 Groceries Week 22 - $90.26

I had a great trip to Country Market this week.   I needed to spend $50 to use the $10.00 off coupon and I spent $50.97!  So that works out to 20% off everything.  Yay!  After the coupon I spent $33.50 on all this food!

I stopped in at The Dollar Tree for birthday balloons for a kiddo.  While there I bought 7 packs of pepperoni for $7.00 (no photo).

We went to Fred Meyer hoping to find a clearance birthday cake and we did!  Yay!  Just $3.99 and I didn't have to bake one in the heat.  So everything was on sale except the organic milk and I spent $43.89 on everything including the cake.

Our milk was  $13.47 this week (I'm only getting every other week right now to save money).

Total groceries for Week 22: $97.86
Groceries Year-to-Date 2015: $1,985.81
Weekly Average: $90.26

This is so much higher than previously - I'm sure it's because I'm providing a GF diet for one kid and we're eating much more organic food than in prior years.  And I guess food prices in general have gone up, but I still kinda am bummed to see the numbers going up.

2013 - Average at Week 22: $84.44
2014 - Average at Week 22: $69.23
2015 - Average at Week 22: $90.26

Katie

2015 Groceries Week 21 - $149.10

I popped into QFC Monday night to pick up organic milk.  I also picked up oranges per a kid request and organic carrots because we were running out.  I found sour cream and karo syrup on clearance and spent $14.10 altogether.

I went to the new County Market Tuesday to use a $10/$50 coupon.  Unfortunately I didn't get my math right on and my pre-tax total was $52.88.  I should have left out the $2.00 Ritz and been way closer to hitting the $50 exactly.  It doesn't make a huge difference: Basically my $10 off yielded 19% savings instead of a 20% savings.  I spent $32.36 on food.  Here's the rundown:
Ritz - $1.99 sale ($0.38 19%) = $1.61
Turkey Franks - $1.00 sale ($0.19 19%) = $0.81
Chicken Breast - $1.99/lb sale ($0.38 19%) = $1.61/lb!
Organic Cucumber - $0.99 sale ($0.19) = $0.80 each
Oranges $3.99 for 4# ($0.76 19%) = $3.23 or $0.81/pound
Mangoes $0.88 each ($0.16 19%) = $0.72 each
Corn 6/$1 ($0.19 19%) = $0.81 or $0.14 each
Bananas $0.59/lb ($0.11 19%) = $0.48/lb
Eggs $0.79 sale ($0.15 19%) = $0.64/dozen

Fred Meyer was on the agenda Saturday morning.  I got lots of great deals including the Nabisco crackers for $1.17 each after store and manufacturer's coupons, cereal for $1.50/box after coupons, Coffeemate for $1.75 after coupons and 3# chubs of 10/90 ground turkey for just $3.99 each.  Other items: organic ketchup, organic celery, potatoes, and onions.  I spent $31.61.

Finally, I hit the jackpot at QFC.  I stopped for a gallon of milk (not pictured) and spotted these cans of baby formula for just $4.99.  These generic brand formula canisters are usually $15, so $4.99 was a score!  I am planning ahead and assuming I again won't be able to breast feed #5, so I loaded up.  I also found a can of tomatoes for $0.49, canned pineapple for $0.79, and refried beans for  $0.49 on the clearance rack.  I spent $71.03.

I was doing pretty well for spending until I found that formula!  

Total for Week 21: $149.10

Total year-to-date 2015: $1,887.95

Weekly average 2015: $89.90

Katie

Gluten Free Menu Plan

Now that my outside freezer is empty my inside freezer is jammed.  I'd like to create a little space in the inside freezer so I have capacity to buy in bulk if I run into a screamin' deal.  That said, I'm not well-stocked on meats as I've been trying to use what's in the freezer.  So I'm feeling a little limited, but that's OK. =)

I'm also trying to use what's on hand and keep my grocery budget low this week because I have some other things to pay for with my $200/week.  Bummer that this means DD#2 is getting alternate meals a lot, but that's how it goes this week.

Dinners:
Monday - Italian Sausage soup (have celery, carrots, onion, sausage, tomatoes, beans, squash)
Tuesday - Pizza (have dough ingredients, pasta sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella)
Wednesday - Ham/Bean soup (have celery, carrots, onion, beans, ham, ham stock on hand)
Thursday - Macaronada (have GF noodles, feta cheese)
Friday - Chicken curry/rice (have dark chicken, rice, tomatoes)
Saturday - Beef Stew (have carrots, potatoes, onions, beef, corn)
Sunday - BBQ Cowboy sandwiches (have shredded turkey, bbq sauce, GF buns)

Lunches:
Monday - pancakes (GF flour) & sausage
Tuesday - mac'n'cheese (DD#2 has hot dog in GF bun)
Wednesday - tortellini (DD#2 has leftover pizza)
Thursday - packed lunch - sandwiches (DD#2 has GF bread)
Friday - taco salad
Saturday - Skillet (eggs/sausage/potato/bell pepper)
Sunday - leftovers

Snacks:
Smoothies
Chopped veggies & hummus (need to use a bell pepper, cucumbers)
Fruit Leather (really want to try this!)
Olive Crostini (have ingredients and so yummy - why not make it?)

To Buy:
Regular hamburger buns?
Produce (veggies for snacks/salads, fruit for snacks/breakfast)
Jack cheese if on sale
Corn tortillas if needed for $10/$50 coupon
Sour cream
Yogurt

Katie

2015 Groceries Week 20 - $124.62

I finally made it to Costco this week.  On Monday, I bought organic mac'n cheese, organic canned tomatoes, organic maple syrup, shredded mozzarella, feta, tortillas, and veggie straws (not pictured).  I spent $51.22.

I was back at Fred Meyer Tuesday for more Founder's Day deals.  I got the Cheerios for $0.79 each with coupons, the Mom's Best cereal for $1.00 each, cheese for $3.99, clearance sausage patties for $1.49 each, Rev wraps for $0.69 each (DH likes them), 3 oranges, and a pound of strawberries.  I spent $22.79 total.

I was back at Fred Meyer - again - Friday for more $1.00 cereal and $3.99 cheese.  I also bought ice cream and hot dog buns for company expected Sunday, Doritos for $2.00 each because I love them (even though I know they are total junk), and butter 3#/$5.00. I also bought organic coconut milk that didn't make it into the photo.  I spent $23.58.

Finally, I dashed into target Saturday morning for a couple things I wanted to take to a scrapbooking day with a girlfriend.  I bought a loaf of bread, 1# strawberries & a cucumber.  I spent $5.56.

Milk was $13.47
No eggs from my friend.

Week 20 total: $124.62
Year-to-date total: $1,738.85
Weekly Average 2015: $86.94

Katie

Menu Plan

DD#2 is still visiting Grandma, so we're eating some gluten early in the week

Dinners:
Monday - Fajitas & Salad
Tuesday - Lemon chicken, sauteed zucchini & yellow squash
Wednesday - BBQ Turkey Sandwiches (GF buns) & cucumber rounds
Thursday - Beef Stew & Salad
Friday - Baked Potato soup
Saturday - Pasta & Salad (GF noodles)
Sunday - Grilled meat - likely some chicken sausages and some steak kebabs - company over

Lunches:
Monday - Tortellini
Tuesday - Waffles
Wednesday - Mac'n'Cheese
Thursday - Finger Food Lunch
Friday - Nachos
Saturday - leftovers
Sunday - Chicken Salad

Katie

2015 Groceries Week 19 - $78.26

It was a lighter shopping week.  

Our Albertson's recently converted to a County Market and they sent  out a mailing with 8 weeks worth of "Spend $50/Save $10" coupons.  I love these coupons since it allows an extra 20% of savings (provided you spend just $50).  I lucked out shopping because my total actually came in at $49.76 before tax, but the coupon still went through.  Yes!!  I bought some hygiene products to hit the $50 mark, but groceries were only $18.98!  

Sausage links - $3.00 (2 qty. $0.75/1 coupons)(20%) = $1.80 each

Strawberries - $1.25 (20%) = $1.00 each

Olives - $1.00 (20%) = $0.80 each

String cheese - $3.00 (20%) = $2.40 each bag of 12

Onion - $1.29 (20%) = $1.03

GF spaghetti - $3.49 (20%) = $2.79 for 2# bag

I popped into Fred Meyer for a couple of birthday cards Friday and zipped by the clearance spots just to see what, if anything, was available.  I scored in the produce department buying 6 bags of clearance items including 3 zucchini, 3 yellow squash, 2 cucumber, 2 cucumber, 3 bell peppers, & 3 organic apples for a grand total of $6.00.

Then I saw the Fred Meyer ad for the sales starting today and had to head in.  I am a sucker for the Founder's Day sales every year and I didn't want to miss a chance pick up some of them.  I spent $39.81 - all on food.  5 boxes of GF cereal for $1.00 each, 4 boxes of GM cereal just $1.09 each after MCs, organic milk was $5.39, organic carrots $2.99, organic lemon $0.79, tomatoes were $0.97/lb, bananas were $0.69/lb, steak sauce was $0.49 on clearance, 3 more organic apples for $1.00, $3.99 for 2# Tillamook, $1.25 for bread, $1.69 for 2# frozen corn, $0.49 for a candy bar, 2 packs of kids gum on clearance and with a coupon were $0.34 each, $2.00/# packages of 'Simple Truth' ground turkey, and $1.00 for a Fage Greek yogurt I wanted for a new recipe.

Milk delivery was $13.47

Week 19 Total Groceries: $78.26
2015 Year-to-Date Groceries: $1,614.23
2015 Weekly average: $84.96

Katie

Gluten-Free Menu Plan

I picked up pepperoni over the weekend and ended up making pizza one night so the butternut squash soup got pushed into this week.

Dinners:
Monday - Italian sausage soup (freezer tomatoes, gleaning zucchini & yellow squash)
Tuesday - Ham
Wednesday - turkey, veggies (packed dinner)
Thursday - Butternut Squash, Roasted Chicken soup
Friday - Potluck (taking TBD side dish)
Saturday - Pizza
Sunday - Leftovers

Lunches:
Monday - Taco Salad
Tuesday - Pizza Bread (leftover GF pizza for DD#2)
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Sausages
Friday - Finger Food Lunch
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Ramen & PBJ (DD#2 out)

Katie

2015 Groceries Week 18 - $69.30

It was a good week for shopping.  I spent $26.66 at Fred Meyer on Thursday on GF cereal, shredded cheese, broccoli, green onions, an organic mango, cream cheese, sour cream, some brick cheese, 3 packages of clearance bacon, and a bag of chips.

I was at my local Albertsons Saturday and found out it's changing hands.  I had a great trip, spending just $10.68.  I got 3 boxes of Little Debbie snacks, 10 cups of Greek yogurt, 2 jars of merlot jam, some organic baby spinach I needed for the butternut squash soup, and 2 packages of ramen, also for a recipe.

There's a Dollar Tree near the Albertsons so I stopped in there for junky syrup that DH specifically asked for.  He doesn't prefer the real maple syrup I started buying at Costco, and since he has gracefully put up with everything else I keep changing on him - it was an easy request to grant.  I also picked up lots of pepperoni, some ranch dressing, a package of ramen, some ketchup, mustard, and whipped topping.  I spent $15.50.

DH picked up some salsa today for $2.99 & our milk was $13.47.

Week 18 Total: $69.30
Year-to-Date Total: $1,535.97
Weekly Average 2015: $85.33

Katie